Tooth pain or TMJ pain? How to distinguish?
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Anonymous
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This is sort of a chicken and egg situation. I’ve been experiencing a TMJ flare up for a couple weeks, and simultaneously experiencing tooth pain on the last molar, which has a crown, on that same side. Only, I can’t remember which started first, or if one is causing the other.
Things I DO know: The pain is always simultaneous—if the TMJ is painful, my jaw/tooth aches. My TMJ is clearly inflamed and causing issues—I can’t feel and hear it clicking, it’s hot and a little tender/swollen, etc The tooth has always been a *little* sensitive to cold, because of the crown. It disappears quickly When I chew, I notice it more than any other time Ibuprofen knocks it on its butt immediately The thing is, sometimes it’s not sensitive at all. I can eat normally and feel nothing. Other days, it’s like every time I eat I’m in agony. Is the tooth causing the TMJ pain, or is the TMJ flare causing the tooth pain? |
Anonymous
| *CAN feel and hear it clicking |
Anonymous
| Sternocleidomastoid and temporalis muscles can both refer to the teeth. You could try self massage and stretching. Use a heating pad. Look online for more self care for this muscles. |
Anonymous
| Is your tooth becoming more sensitive to cold? |
Anonymous
Only when the TMJ seems to be flaring. There is definite inflammation, I can feel it in my ear. And see, that’s the thing, I can’t tell if the swelling is coming from the tooth and making the TMJ area hurt, or if the TMJ flare is causing the inflammation and causing the tooth sensitivity because of the proximity. |
Anonymous
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Go to dentist you don't want to end up with tooth abcess.
Do you clench or grind and wear a night guard? If it's not right or you move it around at night it can make a tooth sensitive and needs adjustment. |
Anonymous
| Trigeminal nerve? |
Anonymous
I suspect OP is grinding. OP, when I was diagnosed I told the dentist I didn't think I bruxed at all. Well, I looked at the nightguard the next morning and was shocked to see the wear marks. You need to see a GOOD dentist (there are charlatans in the TMJ field) for assessment, treatment of that tooth and a biteguard. |
Anonymous
| Is it sensitive to hot at all? |
Anonymous
No! And to answer the previous question, I don’t grind, but I do bite. I don’t have a guard, my insurance doesn’t cover one and the price for one is astronomical and not currently in my budget. I’m working on figuring it out with my insurance company and my budget. |
Anonymous
Sorry to sound alarmist but clenching can damage teeth and you end up with a problem like crown or root canal. DH had bone loss from his and needed bone grafts before an implant. I h ave less bone loss because I got my night guard long ago. They last a long time. I have only had 2 in 18 years. |
Anonymous
| Plakkers disposable night guards are worth a try. Someone mentioned them on another thread. I had similar symptoms and I went to the dentist for an xray just to be sure.. I did not have swelling or pain while biting down on the affected tooth. |
Anonymous
This is exactly what happened to me. Thought it was TMJ and ended up with an abscess and lost the tooth. Best get it checked. |